Open Access

ARTICLE

Finite Element Multi-mode Approach to Thermal Postbuckling of Functionally Graded Plates

W. Xia¹, Y.P. Feng², D.W. Zhao³

1 Corresponding author. State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, School of Aerospace, Xi’ an Jiaotong University, 28 Xianning West Road, Xi’ an 710049, P.R.China. Tel: 86-29-82668754; E-mail: xwei@mail.xjtu.edu.cn
2 State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, School of Aerospace,Xi’ an Jiaotong University, Xi’ an 710049, P.R. China.
3 State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, School of Aerospace,Xi’ an Jiaotong University, Xi’ an 710049, P.R. China.

Computers, Materials & Continua 2015, 46(2), 125-144. https://doi.org/10.3970/cmc.2015.046.125

Abstract

Postbuckling analysis of functionally graded ceramic-metal plates under temperature field is presented using finite element multi-mode method. The three-node triangular element based on the Mindlin plate theory is employed to account for the transverse shear strains, and the von-Karman nonlinear strain-displacement relation is utilized considering the geometric nonlinearity. The effective material properties are assumed to vary through the thickness direction according to the power law distribution of the volume fraction of constituents. The temperature distribution along the thickness is determined by one dimensional Fourier equations of heat conduction. The buckling mode shape solved from eigen-buckling analysis is adopted as the assumed mode function to reduce the degrees of freedom of nonlinear postbuckling equilibrium equations. The postbuckling response is obtained by solving the nonlinear equilibrium equations, and compared with the Newton- Raphson numerical results. The effects of boundary conditions, material gradient index and temperature distribution on postbuckling behavior are examined.

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Keywords

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